jf. Celt Sci.

7 , 3 i 9 - 3 3 S ( i 970)

319

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THE RAPID INTERMIXING OF CELL SURFACE

ANTIGENS AFTER FORMATION OF MOUSEHUMAN HETEROKARYONS
L. D. FRYE* AND M. EDIDINf
Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland 21218, U.S.A.

SUMMARY
Cells from established tissue culture lines of mouse {CIID) and human (VA-2) origin were
fused together with Sendai virus, producing heterokaryons bearing both mouse and human
surface antigens which were then followed by the indirect fluorescent antibody method. Within
40 min following fusion, total mixing of both parental antigens occurred in over 90 % of the
heterokaryons.
Mouse H-2 (histocompatibility) and human surface antigens were visualized by successive
treatment of the heterokaryons with a mixture of mouse alloantiserum and rabbit anti-VA-2
antiserum, followed by a mixture of fluorescein-labelled goat anti-mouse IgG and tetramethylrhodamine-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG(Fc).
The CIID x VA-2 fusions were carried out in suspension and maintained at 37 CC in a shaking
water bath; aliquots were removed at various intervals and stained with the above reagents. The
heterokaryon population was observed to change from an initial one (5-min post-fusion) of
non-mosaics (unmixed cell surfaces of red and green fluorescence) to one of over 90 % mosaics
(total intermixing of the 2fluorochromes)by 40 min after fusion. Mouse-human hybrid lines,
derived from similar fusions, gave fluorescence patterns identical to those of the mosaic
heterokaryons.
Four possible mechanisms would yield such results: (i) a very rapid metabolic turnover of
the antigens; (ii) integration of units into the membrane from a cytoplasmic precursor pool;
(iii) movement, or ' diffusion 'of antigen in the plane of the membrane; or (iv) movement of existing antigen from one membrane site into the cytoplasm and its emergence at a new position on
the membrane.
In an effort to distinguish among these possibilities, the following inhibitor treatments were
carried out: (1) both short- and long-term (6-h pre-treatment) inhibition of protein synthesis
by puromycin, cycloheximide, and chloramphenicol; (2) short-term inhibition of ATP formation by dinitrophenol (DNP) and NaF; (3) short- and long-term inhibition of glutaminedependent pathways with the glutamine analogue 6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine; and (4) general
metabolic suppression by lowered temperature.
The only treatment found effective in preventing the mosaicism was lowered temperature,
from which resulted a sigmoidal curve for per cent mosaics versus incubation temperature. These
results would be consistent with mechanisms iii and/or iv but appear to rule out i and ii.
From the speed with which the antigen markers can be seen to propagate across the cell
membrane, and from the fact that the treatment of parent cells with a variety of metabolic
inhibitors does not inhibit antigen spreading, it appears that the cell surface of heterokaryons
is not a rigid structure, but is ' fluid' enough to allow free ' diffusion' of surface antigens resulting in their intermingling within minutes after the initiation of fusion.
* Present address: Immunochemistry Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children,
Subiaco, W.A. 6008, Australia.
t To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.
21

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L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

INTRODUCTION

The surface membranes of animal cells rapidly change shape as the cells move,
form pseudopods, or ingest material from their environment. These rapid changes in
shape suggest that the plasma membrane itself is fluid, rather than rigid in character,
and that at least some of its component macromolecules are free to move relative to
one another within the fluid. We have attempted to demonstrate such freedom of movement using specific antigen markers of 2 unlike cell surfaces. Our experiments show
that marker antigens on surface membranes spread rapidly when unlike cells are fused.
The speed of antigen spread and its insensitivity to a number of metabolic inhibitors
offer some support for the notion of a fluid membrane.
We have approached the problem of mixing unlike, and hence readily differentiated,
cell surface membranes by using Sendai virus to fuse tissue culture cells of mouse and
human origin (Harris & Watkins, 1965). The antigens of the parent cell lines and of
progeny heterokaryons have been visualized by indirect immunofluorescence, using
heteroantiserum to whole human cells, and alloantiserum to mouse histocompatibility
antigens. Both sera were cytotoxic for intact cells in the presence of complement;
alloantisera have previously been shown, by both immunofluorescence and immunoferritin techniques, to bind only to the surface of intact cells (Moller, 1961; Cerottini & Brunner, 1967; Drysdale, Merchant, Shreffler & Parker, 1967; Davis & Silverman, 1968; Hammerling et al. 1968).
The surface antigens of heterokaryons between hen erythrocytes and HeLa cells
and between Ehrlich ascites and HeLa cells have previously been studied using mixed
agglutination techniques for antigen localization (Watkins & Grace, 1967; Harris,
Sidebottom, Grace & Bramwell, 1969). In these studies intermixing of surface antigens
was demonstrable within an hour or two of heterokaryon formation. However, the
antigens could not readily be localized, since the marker particles used were several
microns in diameter; also, observations were not made of the earliest time at which
mixing occurred. We have been able to examine heterokaryons within 5 min of their
formation and to show that antigen spread and intermixing occurs within minutes
after membrane fusion. Studies on cells poisoned with a variety of metabolic inhibitors strongly suggest that antigen spread and intermixing requires neither de novo
protein synthesis nor insertion of previously synthesized subunits into surface
membranes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell lines
cuD. A thymidine-kinase negative (TK-) subline of the mouse ' L' cell, isolated by Dubbs &
Kitt (1964), and kindly provided by Dr H. G. Coon.
VA-2. An 8-azaguanine-resistant subclone, isolated by Weiss, Ephrussi & Scaletta (1968),
obtained from W-18-VA-2, an SV4O-transformed human line which has been free of infective
virus for several years (Ponten, Jensen & Koprowski, 1963).
Sal. An ascites tumour (designated as Sarcoma I), provided by Dr A. A. Kandutsch, The
Jackson Laboratory, and carried in Aff mice; it was used as a convenient source of mouse cells
for absorption of antiglobulin reagents.

Rapid intermixing of surface antigens

321

Tissue culture
The CIID and VA-2 lines were routinely grown in a modified F-12 medium containing 5 %
foetal calf serum (FCS) (Coon & Weiss, 1969) or in Minimal Essential Medium with 5 % FCS,
5 % Fungizone and 100 units penicillin/ml. The cultures were maintained at 37 C in a waterjacketed CO 2 incubator, 98% humidity, 5 % CO 2 .
For experiments or routine passages, cells were harvested with 2-5 % heat-inactivated chicken
serum, 0 2 % trypsin and 0-002 % purified collagenase (Worthington CSL) in Moscona's
(1961) solution, which is referred to as ' C T C ' .

Sensitizing antibodies
Mouse alloantiserum (FAS-2). Preparation: antibodies primarily directed against the H-2 k
histocompatibility antigens were obtained by a series of intraperitoneal injections of CBA/jf
(H-2 k ) mouse mesenteric lymph node and spleen cells into BALBfcJ (H-2 d ) mice (4-recipients:
1 donor). Six injections were given twice weekly, followed by a booster 2 weeks after the last
injection. The animals were bled from the retro-orbital sinus 4 and 5 days post-booster.
Specificity. Reaction with mouse cells (CIID) : Aliquots of 2 5 x io 5 CIID cells were treated in
suspension with o-i ml of two-fold dilutions of FAS-2 from 1/10 to 1/80. The cells were agitated
periodically for 15 min at room temperature at which time they were washed twice in phosphatebuffered saline (PBS). They were then resuspended in 0-05 ml of fluorescein-labelled rabbit
antimouse IgG, incubated, and washed as above. The cells were then put on to Vaseline-ringed
slides, covered and observed in the fluorescence microscope. Ring reactions as reported by
Moller (1961) were observed with decreasing brightness upon increasing dilutions of the FAS-2.
As maximum brightness was desired, the 1/10 dilution was chosen for all subsequent staining
reactions.
Reaction with human cells (VA-2): No fluorescence was observed when analagous staining
reactions were carried out with human cells.
Reaction with Sendai virus: It was discovered that VA-2 cells pre-treated with Sendai
virus became positive for the FAS-2 sensitization. Normal mouse sera from BALB/cjf, CBAjjf,
DBAI2J and A/Jf strains were also shown to exhibit this anti-Sendai activity. This activity in
FAS-2 was easily absorbed by treating a 1/5 dilution of the antiserum with 333-666 haemagglutinating units (HAU)/ml of virus for 30 min at room temperature and overnight at 4 C.
The absorbing virus was then removed by centrifugation.
Rabbit anti-VA-2 antiserum (RaVA-2) preparation: VA-2 cells were grown in Falcon plastic
Petri dishes, harvested with CTC, and washed 3 times in Hanks's balanced salts solution, BSS
(HEPES-buffered) to remove the foetal calf serum. 2 x io 5 cells were emulsified with Freund's
complete adjuvant (cells : adjuvant = 1 : 2 ) and injected intradermally (flanks and footpads) into
a New Zealand white rabbit. One week later io 6 washed cells were given intradermally (flanks
only; io 5 cells/site). The rabbit was bled from the ear vein 1 and 2 weeks following this second
injection. The sera were heat-inactivated at 56 C for 30 min, aliquoted and stored at 30 C.
Specificity of RaVA-2: Reaction with VA-2: VA-2 cells were seeded on to coverslips
(2-5 x io5/coverslip) and allowed to adhere and spread. The coverslips were then washed with
Hanks's and o-i ml of 2-fold dilutions of the RaVA-2 from 1/2 to 1/256 were added. After
incubation in a moist chamber for 15 min at room temperature, the coverslips were washed
twice in Hanks's BSS and similarly treated with tetramethylrhodamine (TMR)-labelled goat
anti-rabbit IgG (anti-Fc). The cells gave strong fluorescent ring reactions at the lower dilutions
of the sensitizing antibody; the 1/4 dilution was chosen for all subsequent staining reactions.
Reaction with CIID: When analogous staining reactions were carried out with the mouse
cells, a very weak fluorescence was seen in the lower dilutions of the RaVA-2. Consequently,
the serum was routinely absorbed with 5 x 1 0 ci iD/ml of a 1/2 diluted serum (30 min at room
temperature).
Reaction with Sendai virus: The CIID cells, when pre-treated with Sendai virus, gave weak
positive staining with the mouse-absorbed RaVA-2. Therefore, the RaVA-2 was also absorbed
with 333 HAU/ml (30 min at room temperature and overnight at 4 0 C). This doubly absorbed
RaVA-2 then gave a negligible background on the CIID cells.

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L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

Fluorescent antibodies
Goat anti-mouse IgG. Preparation of mouse IgG: A 16% Na2SO4 cut of 26 ml of normal
BALB/c serum was dissolved in 8 ml of 0-2 M NaCl, O-IM phosphate buffer, pH 8-0 and then
dialysed against this buffer in the cold prior to chromatography on a 2-5 x 100 cm column of
Sephadex G-200, in the same buffer. Included fractions comprising the second protein peak
off the column were pooled and dialysed against o-oi M phosphate buffer, pH 7-5. The dialysed
material was applied to a 500-ml column of DEAE-cellulose, equilibrated with o-oi M phosphate
buffer. Material eluting stepwise from the column in 0-025 ar>d 0-05 M phosphate buffer was
pooled and concentrated in an Amicon ultrafilter. The purified material showed only an IgG
arc upon immunoelectrophoresis on agarose and reaction with rabbit anti-whole mouse serum.
Immunization of goat: 10 mg of immunogen was emulsified with Freund's complete adjuvant
(immunogen: Freund's = 1:2) and injected intramuscularly into a 6-month-old goat. Three
and one-half weeks later, 600 ml of blood were collected from the jugular vein and the serum
tested by immunoelectrophoresis. Even though the immunogen had shown no contaminants as
judged by the rabbit anti-whole mouse serum, a trace amount of a more negative protein was
present. Though the goat anti-mouse IgG was not monospecific, non-specificity was not
observed in the indirect fluorescent antibody technique described under sensitizing antibodies.
Conjugation to FITC: The isothiocyanate derivative of fluorescein (FITC) was used for
conjugation to partially purified goat antibodies, employing the method of Wood, Thompson
& Goldstein (1965). The fluorescein-labelled antibodies were eluted stepwise from DEAEcellulose with 0-05, o-i, 0-2 and 03 M phosphate buffers, pH 7-5. The o-i M phosphate buffer
cut, having an O.D. 280/495 = 20 and a protein concentration of 1-3 mg/ml, was used in all
our experiments.
Goat anti-rabbit IgG {Fc). Source: Goat anti-rabbit IgG (Fc), prepared against the Fc
portion of the gamma heavy chain, was kindly provided by Dr J. J. Cebra.
TMRITC conjugation: The preparation of tetramethylrhodamine (TMR)-labelled antibodies was carried out under the same conditions as for the fluorescein conjugation. An o-i M
phosphate buffer cut from DEAE-cellulose had an O.D. 280/515 = 17 and a protein concentration of i mg/ml; it was used in all studies described here.
Sendai virus
The Sendai virus used in the experiments described in this report, was kindly provided by
Dr H. G. Coon. Its preparation was as published (Coon & Weiss, 1969) except that the virus
was inactivated with /?-proprio-lactone, rather than by ultraviolet irradiation.
Formation of heterokaryons
Heterokaryons were produced by the suspension fusion technique originally described by
Okada (1962) for homokaryons. The parental ratios were ciiD/VA-2 = 2-4; 3 x io6 cells
were resuspended in o-i ml of cold Sendai (100-250 HAU/ml) and shaken at 0-4C for 10 min
and then at 37 C for 5-10 min. Culture medium was then added for a 10-fold dilution of the
cells.
Formation of hybrid cell lines
Mouse-human hybrid cell lines were produced by viral fusion as for the heterokaryons.
Following fusion, the cells were plated at 3 x io5/ml in normal medium; 24 h later this
medium was replaced by 'HAT' (Littlefield, 1964), which was used for all subsequent feedings
of these plates and the resulting hybrid lines.

Rapid intermixing of surface antigens

323

Fluorescent staining of cells

Cells from fusion experiments or hybrid cells were washed in Hanks's BSS and resuspended
in a mixture of sensitizing antibodies: FAS-2 and RaVA-2 (1/10 and 1/4 final dilutions, respectively), o-i ml mixture/3-6 x io5 cells; incubation at room temperature for 15 min. Finally,
the cells were washed twice in Hanks's BSS, resuspended in a small volume of the same, placed
on a Vaseline-ringed slide, and observed in the fluorescence microscope.
Table 1. Filter combinations used for excitation of fluorescein and tetramethylrhodamine conjugates
Filter type

Fluorescein

For observation of
Tetramethylrhodamine
A

Excitation

Blue interference filter

Type: PAL

No.: 100-105

Barrier or
Window

A max.: 437 nm
T max.: 43%
HW = 21 nm
Source: Schott and
Gen., Mainz
Kodak Wratten gelatin
Filter no. 58 (green)
or

Kodak Wratten gelatin

Filter no. 8 K 2 (yellow)

Green interference filter:

Type: PAL

No.: 10157-14

A max.: 545 nm
Tmax.: 63%
HW = 21 nm
Source: Schott and
Gen., Mainz
Kodak Wratten gelatin
Filter no. 23 A (red)
and

RG-i filter (Red;

2 x 1 7 mm)

(Schott and Gen., Mainz)

Fluorescence microscopy
All observations of fluorescent cells were made with a Leitz Ortholux Microscope, using
darkfield condenser D 1-20 and an Osram HBO 200-W high-pressure mercury lamp as the
light source. The exciting light was first passed through a Corning BG-38 heat filter and then
through a combination of interference and barrier filters, depending upon the type of fluorescence to be maximized (see Table 1). The interference filters were patterned after those reported
by Ploem (1967) to give maximum brightness for fluorescein- and tetramethylrhodaminelabelled antibodies.
Photography
Pictures of cells stained with fluorescent-labelled antibodies were taken using a Leica camera
and exposing Anscochrome 200 daylight film (ASA 200) for 3-4 min or Hi-Speed Ektachrome
(ASA 160) for 4-6 min.

RESULTS

Staining of cuD and VA-2

When criD or VA-2 populations were stained for either H-2 or human antigens by
the protocol given in Materials and Methods, 2 basic fluorescent patterns were
observed: (1) The majority of the cells gave a full ring reaction, (Mb'ller, 1961) with

324

L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

intensities varying from cell to cell; an occasional cell gave no fluorescence except for
a weak blue-green autofluorescence which was easily distinguishable from the FL or
TMR fluorescence. On the cells giving ring reactions, distinct, tiny patches of fluorescence could be seen by focusing on the upper or lower cell surfaces. When a cell was
in focus for the ring reaction (that is, at the cell equator), these patches were no
longer visible. (2) Some cells gave only a partial ring reaction, and upon focusing on
the upper or lower surfaces, the patches of fluorescence were in highest concentration
on the cell half giving the partial ring reaction.
Staining of cuD x VA-2 hybrid cell lines
Hybrids between cuD and VA-2 were produced as described in Materials and
Methods. Colonies of hybrid cells first appeared 13 days following fusion. Six of these
were isolated and stained to provide positive controls for doubly antigenic cells
(Fig. 3 A, B). Cells of all lines fluoresced green, indicating a content of mouse H-2
antigens, and the intensities were comparable to those given by the mouse parent,
cuD. The intensity of the red fluorescence, marking human antigens, varied from
line to line. If the human parent, VA-2, is given an arbitrary intensity of + 4- units,
then the hybrid lines gave the following: MH-i, + + ; MH-5, + ; MH-2, ; and
MH-6,

-.

Time-course of staining of heterokaryons

Fusions and fluorescent antibody staining of cuD x VA-2 were carried out as described in Materials and Methods. Crosses of cuD x cuD and VA-2 x VA-2 were also
made as controls for antibody specificity. Following the fusion reaction (5-10 min at
37 C), the cells were diluted 10-fold with medium and shaken at 37 C. Aliquots
removed at various times were stained immediately, and the stained cells were kept at
o C until observation.
Though cell fusion indices were not measured, the degree of fusion in the system was
not great, as evidenced by the low number of double-staining cells obtained; the
scanning of severalfieldswas required to count adequate numbers of the heterokaryons.
The control slides of cuD x cuD and VA-2 x VA-2 showed cells with ring reactions of only one colour; green for cuD and red for VA-2. No double-staining cells
were seen.
Four basic types of double-staining cells were observed in the cuD x VA-2 crosses:
(1) M\-H\, a heterokaryon showing unmixed partial ring reactions for each fluorochrome; (2) M\-Hi, in which the heterokaryon showed a complete ring reaction for
the human antigens, but only a partial one for the mouse H-2 antigenic markers;
(3) Mi-H\, the reverse of the pattern seen in M\-Hi; this type was much rarer than
M\-H\, and (4) MI-HI,
which we term mosaics, showing complete ring reactions
for both fluorochromes (Fig. 3 C-G). In addition to these 4 types, a large number of
parent cells were seen which had not fused; these provided another control for reagent
specificity. Homokaryons, though undoubtedly present, would not be detected since
only one type of fluorescence would be seen on such cells. Also present were weakly

Rapid intermixing of surface antigens

325

staining cells which could not be categorized, as well as damaged cells; the latter were
characterized by a diffuse fluorescence of both fluorochromes throughout the cell.
Table 2 shows the results obtained up to 2 h following the initial fusion reaction.
There is a definite trend from an initial population of non-mosaics to one of over
90% mosaics (as percentage of double-stained cell population) by 40 min. Fig. 1
shows a bar graph of the population shift over time.

Table 2. Time course of antigen spread

Incubation
time
at 37 C

Double-staining category
A

Mi-Hi

(min)

Mi-Hi

5
5

26

25

10

24

IO

25
25

20

46

4
4
4
4

25
26

14
14

16

0
0

37

37

100

3i

31

100

I2O

Mi-Hi

Non-mosaic

Total

Mosaics %

29

26
31

13
15

MI-HI

3
40

54
87
88
93

3
15

Mosaic

100-

50-

10

15
25
40
Incubation time at 37 C, min

120

Fig. 1. Appearance of completely double-staining (mosaic) cells

in the population of fused cells.

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L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

In initial studies in which the fused cells were placed on coverslips in Petri dishes
and allowed to adhere and spread for up to 12 h before staining, all double-staining
cells observed were mosaic in appearance.
Inhibitor studies

The rapid spread of antigens across the surfaces of heterokaryons could be due
either to movement of antigens across the cell surface ('diffusion') or to new antigen
synthesis. In an attempt to distinguish between these possibilities, cells were treated
with various metabolic inhibitors before and during fusion. Since the time-course
studies showed that over 90% of the double-stained cells were mosaic by 40 min
at 37 C, this time period was chosen for testing the effects of the inhibitors. The
experiments fall into 4 categories: inhibition of protein synthesis, of ATP formation, of
glutamine-dependent synthetic pathways, and generalized metabolic inhibition by
lowered temperature.
Table 3. Effect of inhibition of protein synthesis on mosaicism
Double-staining category
Treatment
Puromycin,
short term
Puromycin,
long term
Cycloheximide,
short term
Cycloheximide,
long term
Chloramphenicol,
short term
Chloramphenicol,
long term

M f - J [ M i - H i

M .-Hi

Total

Mosaics %

35

36

97

M i-H

o
o
o

24

43

33
45

73
95

12

12

100

34
39

41
41

40

41

83
95
98

43

86

o
o
o

2
I

o
o
o

Inhibition of protein synthesis. Cycloheximide and puromycin were tested for potency
in terms of the inhibition of [3H]leucine incorporation into TCA-precipitable material.
Cycloheximide was found to give over 95 % inhibition at 5 /tg/ml after 30 min incubation, whereas comparable inhibition for our batch of puromycin required 80 /tg/ml
as measured after 3 h.
For the initial experiments the parent cells were suspended in medium containing
either puromycin (8o/6g/ml) or cycloheximide (5/tg/ml) and incubated for 15 min
at 37 C. The cells were then pelleted and fusion carried out as usual. After the fusion
reaction, the cells were diluted 10-fold with inhibitor-containing medium and shaken
for 30 min at 37 C before staining. Table 3 shows the results of these and other
inhibitor experiments. Neither inhibitor had any effect on mosaic formation.
If membrane or antigen subunits were synthesized some time prior to being released
to the surface, short-term inhibition of protein synthesis might be without effect on

Rapid intermixing of surface antigens

327

such subunits, or their insertion into membrane. Therefore, the parent cells were
treated with inhibitors for 6 h prior to their fusion. Confluent plates of cuD and VA-2
were treated with inhibitor in the concentrations used in short-term experiments, but
for 6 h; after 3 h incubation, the medium was replaced with fresh inhibitor-medium
to ensure continued inhibitor potency. (Both inhibitors had been tested with [3H]leucine for prolonged inhibition, and they did retain their potency during a 3-h
incubation.) Two and one-half hours later, the cells were harvested with CTCinhibitor, counted and checked for viability (nigrosin dye exclusion test). Viability
was greater than 95 %. The experiment was then continued, using the same procedures
as for the short-term inhibition experiments. Table 3 gives the results of these
experiments. In the initial long-term experiment, a slight effect for both inhibitors
was noted; however, a repeat experiment gave results equal to control values.
Table 4. Effect of inhibition of glutamine-dependent pathways on mosaicism

Double-staining category
Treatment

Mf-B li

Mf-Hi

Mi-Hi

DON, short term

DON, long term

o
o

M i-Hi
44
40

Total

Mosaics %

45
42

98
95

Analogous short and long-term inhibition experiments were also carried out with
chloramphenicol, at a concentration of 2OO/6g/ml (Table 3). Again negligible inhibition of mosaic formation was noted.
Inhibition of A TPformation. When cells are exposed to 2-5 x I O " 3 M D N P + 2 X IO~3M
NaF following initiation of fusion for 10 min at 37 C, their content of ATP, as
measured in terms of the light flash produced in a luciferin/luciferase system,
(Denburg, Lee & McElroy, 1969) falls to 20% of that of control cells 5 min after
addition of the uncouplers and to 17% at 10 min. After shaking for a further 30 min
at 37 C, the cells were stained and observed. DNP + NaF did not inhibit mosaic
formation.
Inhibition of glutamine-dependent synthetic pathways. Fusion experiments were performed using cells treated with the glutamine analogue, DON (6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine), at a concentration of 250 /(.g/ml in the medium which contained 292 /tg/ml of
L-glutamine. In the short-term inhibition experiment, the parent cells were incubated
in the presence of DON for 30 min at 37 CC prior to the fusion step. Following a
fusion step of 5 min, the cells were diluted 10-fold in DON-containing medium,
shaken for 35 min at 37 C, stained and observed. Table 4 gives the results of this
experiment, in which no effect was seen.
A long-term inhibition experiment was also performed, differing from the former
only in that the cells, in culture, had been treated with DON 6 h prior to the fusion
reaction. After 3 h in culture, the DON-containing medium was replaced with fresh
inhibitor-medium to insure continued inhibition. Before fusion the cells were tested
for viability (nigrosin dye exclusion); viability was greater than 95%. The results of

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L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

this experiment are given in Table 4. Again, mosaic development proceeded as

normal.
Temperature studies

To see the effects of lowered temperature upon mosaic formation, aliquots of

cells were maintained for 30 min at o, 15, 20 and 26 C after an initial 10-min fusion
step. The results are tabulated in Table 5 and Fig. 2 shows a plot of temperature
v. per cent mosaicism in the double-stained cell population. Lowered temperature
does appear to inhibit antigen spread and mixing.
In all the inhibition experiments described, the degree of cell fusion did not appear
to be significantly reduced by any of the inhibitors.
Table 5. Ejfect of temperature on antigen spread and mosaicism
Double-staining category

Incubation

Mi-Hi

Mi-Hf

MI-HI

Total

Mosaics %

11

18
28
16

10

30

11

36

22

49
77
76

O*

15
IS*
20

18

20

20*

20

22

26
26*

48
45

10

23
32

30
42

*5-min fusion at 37 C

15
25
Incubation temperature (C)

35

Fig. 2. Effect of temperature on the appearance of mosaic cells

within 40 min of cell fusion.

42

Rapid intermixing of surf ace antigens

329

DISCUSSION

Surface antigens of cuD and VA-2 cells and of their stable hybrids
Fluorescent antibody staining of cells of lines cuD and VA-2 showed surface
antigens homogeneously distributed, in tiny patches, over the entire surface of most
of the cells observed. The appearance of a 'ring reaction' (Moller, 1961), seems to be
due to surface membrane curvature, resulting in a greater number of fluorochromes
observed per unit area when focusing in the plane of a cell's equator than when focusing
on its upper or lower hemispheres. The reason why some cells exhibit a partial ring
reaction at the equator remains unclear; similar results were noted by Moller (1961).
The discrete patches of fluorescence seen away from the cell equator indicate that
surface antigens are localized or clustered, rather than spread through the entire
surface. Others have reported similar observations, using both light and electron
microscopy. Cerottini & Brunner (1967), using an indirect fluorescent antibody
method to detect mouse H-2 alloantigens on various tumour and normal cells,
observed large patches of fluorescence, especially in ethanol-fixed cells. Two groups
using ferritin-labelled antibodies have also shown H-2 antigens to be clustered in the
membrane (Davis & Silverman, 1968; Hammerling et al. 1968).
Staining of hybrid lines between cuD and VA-2 provided a control for the appearance, when stained, of a cell whose surface is a mosaic of both human and mouse
antigens, and is presumably synthesizing these antigens. Those lines which did stain
positive for both sets of antigens were indistinguishable from the mosaic heterokaryons
found 40 min after initiation of cell fusion.
Surface antigens of heterokaryons
The time-course study of antigens on the surface of newly formed heterokaryons
showed that over 90% of double-staining cells are completely mosaic by 40 min after
initiation of fusion. Though for technical reasons, a single cell cannot be followed
through the various stages of mosaic formation, the population study would indicate
a progression from M\-H\ -* M\-Ti\ - MI-HI.
The observation that the mouse
and human antigens do not spread at the same rate thus giving rise to the M\-Hi
class, remains unexplained. One possible reason for the apparently faster rate of
human antigen mixing could be due to a concentration effect; that is, the human
marker represents all VA-2 surface components antigenic for rabbits (for whole VA-2
cells were used in the rabbit immunization) whereas the mouse marker represents only
H-2 alloantigens (which could presumably be in lesser amount per unit area than total
human antigens per unit area on the VA-2 membrane). Those rare cells showing the
reverse pattern, Mi-H\, could possibly be explained on the basis of the fusion of one
VA-2 cell with several cuD; cell nuclei were difficult to see under dark-field illumination for verification of multicellular fusion.
Four processes might account for the observed development of a mosaic pattern of
antigen distribution: (i) a rapid synthesis of additional antigens, or a rapid metabolic
turnover of existing antigens; (ii) integration of subunits, previously synthesized
within the cell, into the membrane; (iii) movement or 'diffusion' of antigen within

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L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

the plane of the membrane; or (iv) movement of existing antigen from one membrane
site into the cytoplasm and its emergence at a new position on the membrane. Mechanisms iii and iv are difficult to distinguish operationally from each other, while it
ought to be possible to distinguish i or ii from iii and iv.
If (i), rapid metabolic turnover, or synthesis of additional antigen molecules is
responsible for the antigen redistribution observed, then one should be able to block
the process with a suitable inhibitor. Unfortunately, lack of information on the chemistry of the antigens detected in our system precludes a definitive statement that antigen
synthesis or replacement from a cytoplasmic precursor pool is inhibited by any of the
inhibitors tested.
Short-term inhibition of protein synthesis, using puromycin, cycloheximide and
chloramphenicol had no effect upon mosaicism. Three different inhibitors were used
in an effort to block as many different sites of protein synthesis as possible. Unless one
postulates that membrane proteins are synthesized in a metabolic compartment protected from all the inhibitors used, it would appear that rapid de novo protein synthesis
is not a requirement for mosaic formation; indeed, other workers have shown that the
inhibitors we used are effective in blocking the synthesis of membrane-associated
molecules. Kraemer (1966, 1967) found puromycin effective in preventing the
re-appearance of sialic acid on Chinese hamster cells which had previously been treated
with sialidase. Warren & Glick (1968) also found that puromycin blocked the turnover
of [14C]glucose in L cell membranes; cycloheximide retards incorporation of
[14C]leucine in chloroplast membrane protein of Chlaviydomonas (Hoober, Siekevitz
& Palade, 1969).
The glutamine analogue, DON was also without effect on antigen re-arrangement,
both in short- and long-term inhibition experiments. DON has been shown to be an
effective inhibitor of glutamine-utilizing amino transferase reactions involved in
purine and pyrimidine synthesis and in amino sugar synthesis (summarized by
Meister, 1962). In each of the systems, the inhibitor has been shown to be effective
in the presence of a large excess of glutamine. We feel that in our experiments its
failure to inhibit appears to rule out de novo synthesis of oligosaccharides and their
attachment to pre-existing protein chains. The presence of amino sugars and sialic
acid on the cell surface is well documented (see Cook, 1968) and indeed, DON has
been found to inhibit another process involving cell surfaces, glutamine-dependent
reaggregation of dissociated mouse embryoid body cells, when used in the presence of
glutamine (Oppenheimer, Edidin, Orr & Roseman, 1969).
The utilization of a precursor pool of membrane subunits appears to be ruled out
by several of our experiments, especially that involving long-term inhibition of protein
synthesis. Recent in vivo experiments on membrane synthesis in rat liver indicate
the existence of a precursor pool of membrane which is utilized over the course of 3 h
following cycloheximide injection (Ray, Lieberman & Lansing, 1968). Our 6-h pretreatment of cells should have been adequate to deplete similar precursor pools if
they were present in cuD and VA-2 cells. Furthermore, it might be expected that
high energy phosphate bonds might be required for integration of any subunits into
the surface, as indeed they seem to be required for initial membrane fusion in hetero-

Rapid intermixing of surface antigens

331

karyon formation (Okada, Murayama & Yamada, 1966). However, no inhibition of

antigen spread was produced by ATP inhibitors, which in combination quickly reduced
cell ATP to less than 20% of control value. This observation also tells against, though
it does not rule out, mechanism iii for antigen spread. If molecules left the surface and
moved through the cytoplasm before re-emerging at a new point on the surface it
might be thought that their re-integration would require energy from ATP.
In arguing the last point, it may be objected that a cell containing 15-20% of its
normal ATP content may well still be capable of sustaining ATP-requiring synthetic
reactions. Indeed, the degree of inhibition of total ATP generation observed is proportionally far greater than the degree of inhibition of amino acid incorporation by
puromycin and cycloheximide. However, this lower degree of inhibition might be
expected from the work of Atkinson (1965) showing that as ADP and AMP levels
rise in a cell, and ATP levels fall, substrates tend to be shifted to the Krebs cycle,
generating more ATP, rather than to synthetic pathways. Despite this possibility, we
must concede that inhibitor studies with DNP and NaF can only suggest, but not
strongly support, the absence of a need for ATP in antigen movement.
One treatment of fused cells did inhibit the spreading and intermixing of antigens
on their surfaces; this was subjection to lowered temperature. The curve of per cent
mosaics formed v. temperature is that expected if spread were due to diffusion of
antigen-bearing molecules in a solvent, such as lipid, whose viscosity changes markedly
with temperature. The rate of spread of antigens is, assuming a value of 10 nm for
the radius of an antigen molecule, consistent with a membrane viscosity of 100-200
cP(i-2 x io5 Ns m~2), about that of many oils (V. A. Parsegian, personal communication). Furthermore, the curve of per cent mosaics at 40 min v. temperature is
quite similar to some of those given by De Gier, Mandersloot & Van Deenen (1968)
for the penetration of glycerol into liquid crystal 'liposomes' v. temperature. In each
instance, the system appears to have a distinct melting temperature, above which
various processes may occur.
Other natural membranes have also been shown to contain at least some fluid
areas. Hubbel & McConnell (1969) used spin-labelled steroids to show that fluid
regions exist in myelin and another group has recently used calorimetric techniques
to indicate the liquid crystalline state of mycoplasma membranes (Steim et al. 1969).
Blasie & Worthington (1969 a, b) made low angle X-ray scattering measurements of
the arrangement of photopigment molecules in frog retinal receptor disk membranes,
showing that the nearest neighbour frequency for those molecules was altered by
change in temperature, or by the addition of antirhodopsin antibody to the system.
Their interpretation of the data supports the notion that the pigment molecules
'float' in a liquid-like environment.
Our observations and calculations, and the scattered examples from the literature
all call attention to the possibility that elements of many biological membranes are
not rigidly held in place, but are free to re-orient relative to one another. This aspect
of membrane structure has not been considered in current membrane models (cf.
Stoeckenius & Engleman, 1969), though modification or extension of several of these
would be sufficient to account for our results.

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L. D. Frye and M. Edidin

We are deeply grateful to Dr Hayden Coon, now of the Department of Zoology, University
of Indiana, for expert advice on tissue culture techniques and cell fusion, to Dr John Cebra,
for instruction in the preparation of fluorescent antibody reagents, and to Dr Jeffrey Denburg
for performing the A T P assay.
This work was submitted by L. D. F. in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Ph.D.
degree in the The Johns Hopkins University. It was supported by a National Institutes of
Health Predoctoral fellowship to L. D. F., by N I H grant AM 11202 to M. E. and by a N I H
training grant in developmental biology, in the Department of Biology.
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(Received 3 February 1970)

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Fig. 3. All cells are doubly stained with fluorescent antibodies visualizing both mouse
H-2 antigens (green fluorescence) and human surface antigens (red fluorescence).
Photographs were taken through filters allowing only red or green light to reach the
camera, c was doubly exposed to record both colours in a single frame. For further
details see the text, x 3000 approx. A. Stable somatic hybrid line MH-i. Mouse
antigens are shown, B. The same. Human antigens are shown, c. M\-H\. Double
exposure, for both mouse and human antigens. D. M^Hi. Mouse antigens are shown.
E. M|Hi. Human antigens are shown. F.MI-HI.
Mouse antigens are shown.
G. MI-HI. Human antigens are shown. The plate is made from colour prints, not
from original slides.

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335

C 1! I- 7